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State explains how to apply for pandemic unemployment as uncertainty abounds

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Updated: 7:28 PM CDT May 1, 2020

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GET THEIR BENEFITS. DILLON. DILLON: ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU WITH CERTAINTY IS YOU WILL NEED TO GET DENIED FOR STANDARD UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR THOSE PANDEMIC BENEFITS AREA THOSE ARE SELF-EMPLOYED, GIG WORKERS, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, AND OTHERS WERE USUALLY NOT ELIGIBLE. BUT THE SYSTEM HAS CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED PEOPLE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH NOW. A LOT OF THEM STILL WAITING FOR MONEY. CHELSEA: THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE MY APPEAL IS HEARD. I SAID I DON’T HAVE MONTHS. DILLON: CHELSEA NEWMAN HAD JUST GOTTEN A NEW JOB AT A DENTAL CLINIC WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT. SHE APPLIED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT MORE THAN FOUR WEEKS AGO, GOT DENIED, TRIED APPLYING FOR PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE, AND TRIED APPEALING THE DENIAL, JUST NOT SURE WHAT TO DO OR WHAT’S NEXT. CHELSEA: IT’S REALLY STRESSFUL BECAUSE I DON’T WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT’S NEXT WEEK GONNA BE LIKE? WHAT IS THE FALL -- WHEN AM I GONNA BACK TO WORK FULL TIME? DILLON: TONIGHT, THE STATE TELLING ME IT’S A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT THEY HAVE TO FIRST BE DENIED REGULAR UNEMPLOYMENT, BEFORE YOU CAN TRY FOR PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE. BUT MANY PEOPLE TELL ME THAT’S HOLDING UP THEIR PROCESS, SINCE DENIAL CAN TAKE WEEKS, AND THE APPLICATION IS CONFUSING, AND THEY CAN’T GET THE RIGHT PERSON ON THE PHONE TO HELP. NEWMAN WORRIED TONIGHT, IF SHE CAN’T GET UNEMPLOYMENT, WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE’S A SECOND WAVE? CHELSEA: IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, NO ONE’S GONNA GO TO THE DENTIST. DILLON: GOVERNOR TELLING ME YESTERDAY THEY ARE CONTINUOUSLY ADDING PEOPLE TO THE TEAM WORKING ON THIS. HE EXPECTED HALF OF THE CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED TO BE PAID BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. WHEN ASKING FOR THE NUMBER HOW MANY HAVE

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State explains how to apply for pandemic unemployment as uncertainty abounds

The state today released detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to apply for pandemic unemployment assistance. The explanation comes as Oklahomans continue to share stories of being caught without money in weeks of unemployment limbo, victims of a system that wasn’t prepared for the crush of applicants that followed the COVID-19 economic collapse. One new piece of information from the state is that applicants have to be denied regular unemployment benefits before they can apply for pandemic benefits. The pandemic benefits are intended for people who are self-employed or work in the gig economy. The system has confused and frustrated applicants, many of whom say they still can’t get their questions answered. “They told me it could be months before my appeal is heard. I told them I don’t have months,” applicant Chelsea Newman said. Newman had just gotten a job at a dental clinic when the pandemic struck. She said she applied for unemployment four weeks ago and was denied. She then applied for pandemic assistance and tried appealing the denial. She’s not sure what her next step is. "It's really stressful because I don't know what, you know, what's next week gonna be like? When am I gonna back to work full-time?” she said. The state said it’s a federal requirement that applicants must be denied regular unemployment before applying for pandemic assistance. But many applicants say that’s what’s holding up the process. Denials can take weeks, and the application is confusing. Meanwhile, they can’t get the right person on the phone to answer their questions. Newman worries about a second wave of the coronavirus, particularly if she can’t get unemployment first. "Again, if this happens again, no one's gonna go to the dentist! And we won't have a job, we'll be out of work until it opens again. Am I gonna have to go through this again?" she wondered. Stitt has said he expects half of the state’s pandemic unemployment claims to be paid by the end of this week. However, the state refuses to release claim numbers, saying they must go to the Department of Labor first.

OKLAHOMA CITY —

The state today released detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to apply for pandemic unemployment assistance.

The explanation comes as Oklahomans continue to share stories of being caught without money in weeks of unemployment limbo, victims of a system that wasn’t prepared for the crush of applicants that followed the COVID-19 economic collapse.

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One new piece of information from the state is that applicants have to be denied regular unemployment benefits before they can apply for pandemic benefits. The pandemic benefits are intended for people who are self-employed or work in the gig economy. The system has confused and frustrated applicants, many of whom say they still can’t get their questions answered.

“They told me it could be months before my appeal is heard. I told them I don’t have months,” applicant Chelsea Newman said.

Newman had just gotten a job at a dental clinic when the pandemic struck. She said she applied for unemployment four weeks ago and was denied. She then applied for pandemic assistance and tried appealing the denial. She’s not sure what her next step is.

"It's really stressful because I don't know what, you know, what's next week gonna be like? When am I gonna back to work full-time?” she said.

The state said it’s a federal requirement that applicants must be denied regular unemployment before applying for pandemic assistance. But many applicants say that’s what’s holding up the process. Denials can take weeks, and the application is confusing. Meanwhile, they can’t get the right person on the phone to answer their questions.

Newman worries about a second wave of the coronavirus, particularly if she can’t get unemployment first.

"Again, if this happens again, no one's gonna go to the dentist! And we won't have a job, we'll be out of work until it opens again. Am I gonna have to go through this again?" she wondered.

Stitt has said he expects half of the state’s pandemic unemployment claims to be paid by the end of this week. However, the state refuses to release claim numbers, saying they must go to the Department of Labor first.